That's another good idea for passing the time. I just have to be careful I don't get too absorbed in what I am reading and forget to keep an eye on the gauge. I sit in a kitchen chair in front of the stove so I can glance up at it. I once borrowed a new canner from a neighbor for some reason. I think it was an All American brand. The pressure stayed right where I wanted it to, and it was wonderful. If I was just starting out as a young person, I would have run out and bought one just like it. But I doubt if I'll be doing enough canning in the next 10 years or so to justify spending $400 on a new pressure canner.